Elco (Electric Launch Company)

By the time WW2 broke out, Elco was an established manufacturer of motor pleasure boats, and especially motor cabin cruisers. Over the course of the war, Elco designed and built three types of Patrol Torpedo boats for the US Navy, of 70, 77 and 80ft length respectively.

Elco 70ft

Elco bought a British 70ft MTB with the understanding to rework it to fit the US Navy specification and build them under license. The purchased motor torpedo boat became PT 9. After initial trials, some changes were made before production, such as motors changed from three Rolls-Royce Merlins to three newly developed 1200 hp Packard engines.

Hull numbers: PT 10 – 19. They were transferred to British service in 1941 and were renumbered MTB no. 259 – 268.

Elco 77ft

Hull numbers PT 20 - 68. These boats saw service in Pearl Harbor during the attack by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. Another squadron stationed in the Philippines was attacked three days later. The same squadron enabled the evacuation of General McArthur and his entourage from Corregidor on March 12, 1942. Ten of the Elco 77ft Pt boats went into British service in 1942.

Elco 80ft

This is the design most people associate with Patrol Torpedo boats - and for a good reason. The Elco 80ft design was designed in more numbers than any other.

Higgins Industries Boatworks

Higgins Industries got started in 1930 and was located in New Orleans. Their specialty was shallow draft boats especially adapted for the conditions in the bayous characteristic to the area.

As war broke out production quickly switched to small crafts for the armed forces. Higgins manufactured 20,094 boats for the war efforts, most of which were landing crafts. Only 199 Higgins Pt boats were produced.